Ten Tips for Selling Your Home

It seems it’s “tips” week here at CG and today we’re talking about some general suggestions for selling your home.  When I say “we” I mean I’ve invited my mister to share some tips with you since he’s the guy with all the knowledge on this subject – he’s a real estate appraiser and broker (yep both!) with over 25 years experience.  I asked him to contribute some of his knowledge so he was kind enough to write up this article for you today.

And after three years, it’s time I stop referring to him as just “mister” so allow me to introduce my husband to you by his actual name – it’s Matthew, or Matt as most people call him.  There I feel much better now that you finally know his name too!  Matt’s taking the helm here to share his ten best suggestions for selling your home quickly and achieving top dollar at the same time.  Here he is:

“Kate asked me to share some of my suggestions for maximizing the value of your home when you decide to put it on the market (and she’s going to add some pictures to illustrate too.)  First know that these recommendations depend on a variety of factors such as price range, time of year, region, and location, and this list is by no means all inclusive.

For first timers, the process of selling a home can be stressful, but there are a few things you can do to reduce the anxiety of the sale and secure the best sales price too. Most people buy the home they feel the most emotionally connected with – the one they can envision living in. Your goal as the seller is to give that feeling to the best of your ability to any potential buyer that comes through your door.

Ten Tips for Selling Your Home

1. First Impressions Matter.  The exterior of your home gives potential buyers the first impression and you want it to be looking its very best.  Start by power washing your home to get rid of any cobwebs, dirt, or grime. Rid your driveway of any oil stains and move any old cars off the property. Focus attention on an attractive and inviting entry with a new welcome mat, potted plants, and flowers. If your front porch light is old and/or broken spend $30 and give it a facelift with a new fixture. Spruce up the landscaping, mow the grass, prune the trees and shrubs, and replace or replant where needed.

2. Inspect the Exterior and Make Obvious Repairs.  Repair any peeling exterior paint or damaged siding, especially in the front of the home.  Make sure the front door hinges and hardware work perfectly, and the doorbell too since one of the worst first impressions is a non-working doorbell.  If for some reason you can’t get it to work, place a note over the doorbell that reads “Please Knock”.  Sliders and doors all need to be oiled and working smoothly including the sliding screen doors too.  You want that smooth transition from room to room and from indoor to outdoor living.

To read the rest, click here.

Beautiful Landscaping Project for El Paso Homeowners

Mediterranean Landscape by Phoenix Landscape Architect Exteriors By Chad Robert

Home Staging: It Makes a Difference

Staging your home really can make a sale.  When people visit your home, they want to see a home that is in good shape and they want to be able to imagine themselves living in it.  When the house is cluttered, in disarray or if it's a vacant house, the last thing they want to see is garbage lying around or unwanted left overs.  Staging a home really can go a long way.  Look at the pictures above and see how amazing they look before and after.

Just remember, it doesn't mean you have to go out and spend thousands of dollars in renovations rather simple things like clearing out clutter and organizing can go a long way.

Looking to buy or sell in El Paso?  Check out SearchElPasoHomes.com.

Home Seller Check List to Prepare Your Home

Here are a few basic "to-do" items to get you home ready before putting it on the market. This will also help get top dollar for your home without any extra expense

EXTERIOR

• Touch up all chipped paint, stained areas, etc.
• Do general lawn maintenance, make sure the grass is cut and if needed, add seed and water to your lawn so potential buyers see a green lawn.
• Trim back all overgrown shrubbery
• In summer time, add a few flowers to give the home more curb appeal
• Replace any missing shutters, gutters, and downspouts.
• Clean up any clutter from you yard, children’s toys, hoses, sports equipment, etc.
• Make sure you have no visible roof damage.
• Fix any large cracks in the driveway and walkways. No need to resurface everything, just pick up some basic repair tools at you local home repair store
• Fences and railings should be clean and in good shape. Repaint only if necessary
• Clean all windows

INTERIOR

Living Area

• Of course, clean your home thoroughly
• Remove valuable items and put in a safe place
• Touch up all paint on walls, doors and trim. Any cracks should also be repaired
• Have the carpet cleaned to remove any stains or dirt. Also make sure it is vacuumed the day of showing
• Make sure the fireplace is in good shape and reasonable clean
• Check all doors and windows to ensure each work properly; replace any that are missing and fix any squeaks or jams. Also check the handles for anything loose
• Freshen up the home by using deodorizers and freshening sprays.
  NOTE: do not overdue this, some people are bothered by certain smells, while others are may think your trying to cover up a larger problem. Use sparingly and a couple of hours before a showing, if possible.
• Clean as much out of the closets as possible to make them appear larger.
  If you have any extremely bright or odd color choice, considering repainting those rooms and light neutral.

Kitchen

• This room is very important, clean all surfaces and organize all your appliances.
• Like the closets, make as much room in the cabinets as possible so there
  looks like there is more than enough room for the buyer’s kitchenware
• Remove everything for the sink; dirty dishes, rags, sponges etc.
• Inspect the floor for any damage and fix accordingly
• Remove as much off the counters as possible, buyers want a kitchen with a lot of counter space. Do keep a few accessories to make it look nice though.

Bathroom

• After the kitchen, the bathroom is the second most important; clean the shower, sink and toilet. Remove any stains
• Check caulking and replace if needed
• Inspect faucets for leaks and drains for clogs
• Make sure mirrors are spotless
• Remove any personal care items along with dirty towels

Basement, Attic & Garage

• Straighten up the clutter
• Make sure stairways and entryways are well lit
• Repair poor flooring or walls
• Keep items against the wall to give it an uncluttered feel and make it look bigger

To look at available homes or to sell your home in the El Paso, Texas area, click on searchelpasohomes.

Home Designs for Pet Lovers

Home designs are becoming more sophisticated with coming up with ideas to accommodate everyone to include the pets.  Many people regard their pets as one of the family so why not design a house that can include your pets?  Great idea isn't it?  

It only makes sense to carve a little area out just for our four legged friends as it really improves the appearance of a home when they have their own designated area instead of placed bowls somewhere on the floor.  

To see more pet designs, click here.

25 Mistakes in Decorating

When you decide to sell your house, it's always important to prepare the house or as it's called in the real estate world, stage it.  When you have looked for housing in the past whether it's a house or an apartment, you know that a house staged to entice will catch your eye than a bland, empty or cluttered home or apartment.  Staging is necessary and that includes the right decorations.  You really can make mistakes by making bad decorating decisions.

From the pre-cut toilet rugs to too many photos to out of place themes like a beach themed bedroom in the middle of the desert to visible clutter.  Making the right choices really can help you sell a home.

To read more, click here on 25 mistakes in decorating.

Quick Home Updates Requiring Little Time

If you are getting ready to sell your home or even if it's on the market, there are some quick updates you can do that will take little time and expense.  These easy updates might just catch the eye of that home buyer.  As you walk around your house and yard, try to take a step back and look for broken, drab or outdated things that can require a quick fix.

Inside and outside your home, these quick and easy fix ups are worth the time:

• Nicks in the pain or gouges can require just a quick touch up without paining the entire room.  Of course, painting a room will give it new light but if you don't have the time or funds, touching up is a quick alternative.  This holds true for walls, doors, base boards, windows and wall marks.
• Sometimes the cabinet hardware is outdated or loses it's luster.  New pulls and knobs really can change a drab kitchen or bathroom with little time.  Check out your local hardware store or online for some great choice.  If you are concerned about trends, search first for trendy kitchen/bathroom hardware.
• Light and power plates can really reveal the age of your house.  Consider switching up to nicer ones or ones that will match your decor.  Again, not a huge time task but it can pay off.
• Not only can updating the bathroom hardware make a difference but a new toilet seat can make a difference.  The toilet is a particular item with some folks and you don't want to have a cracked or discolored seat so investing in a new seat might help make a difference.
• Lighting is also a step in doing something simple in updating the appearance.  You want to make sure you have the right sized bulbs and the same bulbs if in an area that has multiple lighting.  A room looks best when well lit and having nice looking bulbs such as in the bathroom vanity, can increase eye appeal.
• Declutter both the inside and the outside.  People want to see a home that is roomy and will contain all their belongings.  Seeing a home that is piled high with stuff in every room is a turn off.  On the same note, having a yard full of equipment, toys, trash, etc is equally unappealing.  Taking the time to tidy and declutter can go a long way.
• Is your mailbox old, worn or beat up?  Time to put your curb appeal eye on as curb appeal does matter.  From the yard, to the exterior to the house to even the mailbox.  You want an inviting home and when the detail is there, it will show via the curb.
• This holds true to the numbers on your house.  You want clear, easy to see nice home numbers.  If they are faded, consider replacing them.

These are just some easy steps that you can take in increasing your home's appeal when selling it.  It doesn't require a lot of time or investment and it might make the difference in a sell versus no interest.

Interested in buying or selling a home in El Paso, check out www.searchelpasohomes.com.